Ir*    1687   3(D-) 


Duke   University   Libraries 

The  battle  of  B 
Conf  Pam  #498 


State  Convention.]  [June,  1861, 

'Jrdered  to  be  Printed. 


Syme  &  Hall,  Printers  to  the  Convention. 


THE.  BATTI.E  OF  BETHEL  CHURuH. 


STATE  OF  NORTH  CAROLINA,  / 
Executive  Department,  Rale'.gh,  June  21,  18G1 .      \ 

Ti>  ilie  Honorable  the  Presidenl 

and  Members  of  the  Convention : 
Gentlemen  :— Herewith  I  transmit  a  dispatch  from  Gen. 
D.  H.  Hill,  j!;ivinp;  furtlior  interesting  details  of  the  Battlf 
of  Bethel  Church. 

Too  niucli  praise  cannot  be  accorded  to  our  brave  soldiers 
who  v.orc  engaged  in  that  action.  I  will  at  an  early  day. 
as  for  as  my  power  extends,  manifest  the  public  approval  oi' 
their  gallantry  and  good  conduct  upon  the  occasion  referred 
to  l)y  suitable  promotions. 

Respectfully  submitted , 

JOHN  W.  ELLIS. 


OFFICIAL  REPORT  OF  COL.  HILL. 
Hon.  John  W.  Ellis,  Governor  of  North  Carolina: 

SiFv — I  have  the  honor  to  report  that  in  obedience  to  orders 
from  the  Colonel  commanding,  I  marched  on  the  6th  inst,, 
with  my  Kegiment  and  four  pieces  of  Maj.  Randolph's  bat- 
tery, from  Yorktown,  on  the  Hampton  Road,  to  Betho] 
Church,  nine  miles  from  Hampton. 

We  reached  there,  after  dark,  on  a  wet  iii.<j,ht,  and  slej.l 
without  tenls.     Early  on  the  morning  ol"  the  7th.  I  made  a 


2  State  Convention.  [June, 

iroconnoissance  of  the  ground  preparatory  to  fortifying.  1 
found  a  branch  of  Back  River  in  our  front  and  encircling  our 
right  flank.  On  our  left  was  a  dense  and  almost  impassable 
wood,  except  about  150  yards  of  old  field .  The  breadth  of  the 
road,  a  thick  wood,  and  a  narrow  cultivated  field  covered 
our  rear.  The  nature  of  the  ground  determined  me  to  make 
an  enclosed  work,  and  I  liad  the  invaluable  aid  of  Lieut. 
Col.  Lee,  of  my  regiment,  in  its  plan  and  construction.  Our 
position  had  the  inherent  defect  of  being  commanded  by  an 
immense  field  immediately  in  front  of  it,  upon  which  the 
masses  of  the  enemy  might  be  readily  deployed .  Presuming 
that  an  attempt  would  be  made  to  carry  the  bridge  across  the 
stream,  a  battery  was  made  for  its  especial  protection,  and 
Maj.  Randolph  placed  his  guns  so  as  to  sweep  all  the  ap- 
proaches to  it.  The  occupation  of  two  commanding  emi- 
nences beyond  the  creek  and  on  our  right,  would  have  great- 
ly strengthened  our  position,  but  our  force  was  too  weak  to 
admit  of  the  occupation  of  more  than  one  of  them .  A  battery 
was  laid  out  on  it  for  one  of  Randolph's  Howitzers.  We 
had  only  25  spades,  6  axes,  and  Spicks,  but  these  were  busi- 
ly plied  all  day  and  night  of  the  7thj  and  all  day  on  the  8th. 
On  the  afternoon  of  the  8th  I  learned  that  a  marauding  par- 
ty of  the  enemy  was  in  a  few  miles  of  us,  I  called  for  a 
party  of  34  men  to  drive  tliem  back.  Lieut.  Roberts,  of  F 
company  of  my  regiment,  promptly  responded,  and  in  five 
minutes  his  command  was  en  route.  I  detached  Maj.  Ran- 
dolph, with  one  howitzer  to  join  him,  and  Lieut.  Col.  Lee, 
1st  Regiment  North  Corolina  Volunteers,  requested  and  was 
granted  permission  to  take  command  of  the  whole.  After 
a  march  of  five  miles,  they  came  across  the  marauders,  busy 
over  the  spoils  of  a  plundered  house.  A  shell  soon  put  the 
plunderers  to  flight,  and  they  were  chased  over  New  Market 
Bridge,  where  our  little  force  was  halted  in  consequence  of 
the  presence  of  a  considerable  body  stationed  on  the  other 
side.  Lieut.  Col.  Lee  brought  in  one  prisoner.  How  many 
of  the  enemy  were  killed  and  wounded  is  not  known.  None 
of  our  command  was  hurt.     fSoon  after  Lieut,  Col.  Lee  left. 


1861.]  State  r,oNVENTiox.  3 

ii  citizen  caine  dashing  'ni  with  the  inlbrmatiou  that  75  ma- 
rauders were  on  the  Back  Elver  road.  I  called  for  Capt. 
McDoweirs  Comp^'ny  E,  of  the  1st  Regiment  North  Carolina 
Volunteers,  and  in  three  minutes,  it  was  in  hot  pursuit. 
Lieut.  West,  of  the  Howitzer  Battalion,  with  one  piece,  was 
detached  to  join  them,  and  Maj.  Lane,  of  my  regiment, 
volunteered  to  assume  command  of  the  whole.  After  a 
weary  m3\cli,  tliey  encountered,  dispersed  and  chased  the 
wretchy'j  over  New  Market  hridge — this  being  the  second 
race  o;n  the  same  day  over  the  New  Market  course,  in  hotli 
of '^vhich  the  Yankees  reached  the  goal  first.  Major  Lane 
'jrought  in  one  prisoner.  Reliable  citizens  reported  that  two 
cart  loads  and  one  buggy  load  of  wounded  were  brought 
into  Hampton .  We  had  not  a  single  man  killed  or  wounded. 
Col.  Magruder  came  up  that  evening  and  assumed  command. 
On  Sunday  the  ninth,  a  fresh  supply  of  tools  enabled  us  to 
put  more  men  to  work,  and  when  not  engaged  in  religious  du- 
ties, the  men  worked  vigorously  on  the  entrenchments.  We 
were  aroused  at  3  o'clock  on  Monday  morning,  for  a  general 
advance  upon  the  enemy,  and  marched  3^  miles,  when  we  learn- 
ed that  the  foe  in  large  force  was  within  a  few  hundred  yards 
of  us.  We  fell  back  hastily  upon  our  entrenchments,  and  await- 
ed the  arrival  of  our  invaders.  Lieut.  Col.  Stewart,  of  the  3d 
Va.  Regiment,  having  joined  us  with]some  180  men,  was  station- 
ed on  the  hill  on  the  extreme  right,  beyond  the  creek,  and  com- 
pany G,  of  my  Regiment,  was  also  thrown  over  the  stream  to 
protect  the  Howitzer  under  Capt.  Brown.  Capt.  Bridgcrs,  of 
company  A,  1st  N.  C.  regiment,  took  post  in  the  dense  wood 
beyond  and  to  tlie  left  of  the  bridge.  Maj.  Montague,  with 
three  companies  of  his  battalion,  was  ordered  up  from  the  rear, 
and  took  post  on  our  right,  beginning  at  the  Church  and  ex- 
tending along  the  entire  front  on  that  side.  This  fine  body  of 
men,  and  the  gallant  command  of  Lieut.  Col.  Stewart,  worked 
with  great  rapidity,  and  in  an  hour  had  constructed  temporary 
shelters  against  the  enemy's  fire.  Just  at  9  o'clock,  A.  M.,  the 
heavy  column.s  of  the  enemy  were  seen  approaching  rapidly  and 


PR'^^S? 


4  State  ConvI'^tion.  [June, 

in  good  order,  but  Avhen  Randolph  ojicncd  upon  tlicni  at  9.J, 
tlieir  organization  was  completely  brokt '^  up.  The  enemy 
promptly  replied  with  his  Artillery,  firing  .briskly  and  Avildly. 
He  made  an  attempt  at  deployment  on  our  i\'^ht  of  the  road, 
under  cover  of  some  houses  and  a  paling.  TheJ  were,  howev- 
er, promptly  driven  back  by  our  Artillery,  a  Virgii.'ia  company, 
(the  Life  Guards,)  and  companies  B,  C,  and  G,  of  my  Regiment. 
The  enemy  made  no  deploy^nent  ivitMn  musketry  ran^e  during 
the  day,  except  under  cover  of  woods,  fences  or  palings.  Under 
cover  of  the  trees,  he  moved  a  strong  column  to  an  old  /ord 
some  f  of  a  mile  below  where  I  had  placed  a  picket  of  some  4v^ 
men.  Col.  Magruder  pent  Capt.  Worth's  company,  of  Monta- 
gue's command,  with  one  howitzer  under  Sergeant  Crane,  to 
drive  brack  this  column,  which  was  done  by  a  single  shot  from 
the  howitzer.  Before  thii^,  a  priming  wire  had  been  broken  in 
the  vent  of  the  howitzer  commanded  i;)y  Capt.  Brown,  and  ren- 
dered it  useless.  A  force  estimated  at  1500  was  now  attempt- 
ing to  outflank  us  and  get  in  the  rear  of  Lieut.  Col.  Stewart's 
small  command.  He  was  accordingly  directed  to  fall  back,  and 
the  Avhole  of  our  advanced  troops  were  withdrawn.  At  this 
critical  moment,  I  directed  Lieut.  Col.  Lee  to  call  Capt.  Brid- 
gers  out  of  the  swamp  and  order  him  to  re-occupy  the  nearest  ad- 
vanced Avork,  and  I  ordered  Capt.  Ross'  company,  1st  Regi- 
ment N.  C.  Volunteers,  to  the  support  of  Lieut.  Col.  Stewart. 
These  two  Captains,  with  their  companies,  crossed  over  to  Ran- 
dolph's battery  under  a  most  heavy  fire,  in  the  most  gallant 
manner.  As  Lieut.  Col.  Stewart  had  withdrawn,  Capt.  Ross  was 
detained  at  the  Church  near  Randolph's  battery.  Capt.  Brid- 
gers,  hoAvever,  crossed  over  and  drove  the  Zouaves  out  of  the 
advanced  Howitzer  Battery  and  re-occupied  it.  It  is  impossi- 
ble to  over-estimate  this  service.  It  decided  the  action  in 
our  favor.  In  obedience  to  orders  from  Col.  Magruder, 
Lieut.  Col.  Stewart  rushed  back,  and  spite  of  the  presence 
of  a  foe  ten  times  his  superior  in  numbers,  resumed,  iu  the 
most  heroic  manner,  possession  of  his  entrenchments.  A 
fresh  howitzer  was  carried  agross  and  placed  in  the  Battery. 


1861.]  State  Convention.  5 

and  Capt.  Avery,  of  Company  G,  was  directed  to  detoud  it 
at  all  hazards.  We  were  now  as  secure  as  at  the  besinnins: 
of  the  fight,  and  as  yet  had  no  man  killed.  The  enemy, 
finding  himself  foiled  on  our  right  flank,  next  made  his 
final  demonstration  on  our  left.  A  strong  column,  supposed 
to  consist  of  volunteers  from  ditferent  regiments,  and  under 
command  of  Capt.  Wintlirop,  Aid-de-camp  to  Gen.  Butler, 
crossed  over  the  creek  and  appeared  at  the  angle  on  our  left. 
Those  in  advance  had  put  on  our  distinctive  badge  of  a 
white  band  around  the  cap,  and  they  cried  out  repeatedly, 
''  don't  fire."  This  ruse  was  practised  to  enable  the  whole 
column  to  get  over  the  creek  and  form  in  good  order.  They 
now  began  to  cheer  most  lustily,  thinking  that  our  work  was 
open  at  the  gorge  and  that  they  could  get  in  by  a  sudden 
rush.  Companies  B  and  C,  however,  soon  dispelled  the  il- 
lusion by  a  cool,  deliberate  and  well  directed  fire.  Col.  Ma- 
gruder  sent  over  portions  of  G,  C  and  H  companies  of  my 
regiment  to  our  support.  And  now  began  as  cool  firing  on 
our  side  as  ever  was  witnessed. 

The  three  field  ofiicers  of  the  regiment  wore  present,  and 
hnt  ?i>w  shots  were  fired  without  their  permission,  the  men 
repeatedly  saying,  "  may  I  fire,  I  think  I  can  bring  him." 
They  were  aU  iu  high[glee,  and  seemed  to  enjoy  it  as  much 
as  boys  do  rabt'it  shooting.  Capt.  Wintlirop,  Avhile  most 
gallantly  urging  o;.i  his  men,  was  shot  through  the  heart, 
when  all  rushed  back  with  the  utmost  precipitation.  So 
far  as  my  observation  extended,  he  was  the  only  one  of  the 
enemy  wlio  exhibited  eveii  an  approximation  to  courage  du- 
ring the  day.  The  fight  nt  the  angle  lasted  but  twenty 
minutes  ;  it  comjiletely  disconvagedthe  enemy,  and  he  made 
no  further  eftbrt  at  assault.  The  house,  in  front,  which  had 
served  as  a  hiding  place  for  the  enciuy,  was  now  fired  by  a 
shell  from  a  Howitzer,  and  the  outhouses  and  palings  were 
soon  in  a  blaze.  As  all  shelter  was  now  taken  from  him, 
the  enemy  called  in  his  troops  and  started  back  for  Hampton. 
As  he  had  left  sharp  shooters  behind  him  in  ti^e  woods  on 
our  left,  the  dragoons  could  not  advance  until  Ca^)t,  Hoke, 


6  vState  Convention.  1861.] 

of  Company  K,  1st  Regiment  North  Carolina  Volunteers, 
had  thoroughly  explored  them.  When  he  gave  the  assur- 
ance of  the  wood  being  clear,  Capt.  Douthatt,  with  some  100 
Dragoons,  pursued.  The  enemy,  in  his  haste,  threw  away 
hundreds  of  canteens,  haversaclcs,  overcoats,  &c. ;  even  the 
dead  were  thrown  out  of  the  wagons.  Tlie  pursuit  soon 
became  a  chase,  and  for  the  tliird  time  the  enemy  won  the  race 
over  the  New  Market  course.  The  bridge  Avas  torn  up  be- 
hind him,  and  our  dragoons  returned  to  camp. 

There  were  not  quite  800  of  my  regiment  engaged  iu  the 
fight,  and  not  one-half  of  these  drew  a  trigger  during  the  fight. 
All  remained  manfully  at  the  post  assigned,  and  not  a  man  in 
the  regiment  behaved  badly.  The  companies  not  engaged  were 
as  much  exposed  and  rendered  equal  services  with  those  partici- 
pating in  the  fight-  Tliey  deserve  equally  the  thanks  of  the 
country.  In  fact  it  is  the  most  trying  ordeal  to  which  soldiers 
can  be  subjected  to  receive  a  fire  which  their  orders  forbid  them 
to  return.  Had  a  single  company  left  its  post,  our  works  would 
have  been  exposed.  And  the  constancy  and  discipline  of  the 
unengaged  companies  cannot  be  too  highly  commended. 

A  detachment  of  fifteen  cadets  of  the  N.  C.  Military  Insti- 
tute defended  the  Howitzer  under  Lt.  Hudnell,  and  ^.cted  with 
great  coolness  and  determination. 

I  cannot  speak  in  too  high  terms  of  my  two  field  ofiicers,  Lt. 
Col.  Lee  and  Maj.  Lane.  Their  services  have  been  of  the  high- 
est importance  since  taking  the  field  to  the  present  moment. — 
My  thanks  are  due  in  an  especial  manner  to  Lieut.  J.  M.  Poteat, 
Adjutant,  and  Lieut.  J.  W.  Ratchford,  Aid,  both  of  them  Cadets 
of  the  N.  C.  Military  Institute,  at  Charlotte.  The  latter  re- 
ceived a  contusion  in  the  foreboad  from  a  grape-shot,  which 
nearly  cost  him  his  life. 

Capt.  Bridgers,  Company  A;  Lieut.  Owens,  commanding 
company  B  ;  Capt.  Ross,  company  C ;  Capt.  Ashe,  company,  D; 
Capt.  ■McDowell,  company  E  ;  Capt.  Starr,  company  F  ;  Capt. 
Avery,  company  G  ;  Capt.  Iluske,  company  H ;  Lieut.  Whita- 
ker,  commanding  company  I ;  and  Capt.  Hoke,  company  K ; 
displayed  great  coolness,  judgment  and  efficiency.     Lieut.  Greg. 


1861.]  State  Conventiox.  7 

ory  is  highly  spoken  of  by  Maj.  Lane  for  soldierly  bearing  on 
the  8th.  Lieuts.  Cook  and  IMcKethan,  company  H,  crossed  over 
under  a  heavy  fire  to  the  assistance  of  the  troops  attached  on 
the  left,  so  also  did  Lieut.  Cohen,  company  C.  Lieut.  Hoke 
has  shown  great  zeal,  energy  and  judgment  as  an  engineer 
officer  on  various  occasions. 

Corporal  Geo.  Williams,  company  A :  privates  Henry  L. 
Wyatt,  Thomas  Fallan,  John  Thorpe,  company  A,  volunteered 
to  burn  the  house  which  concealed  the  enemy.  They  behaved 
with  great  gallantry.  Wyatt  Avas  killed,  nnd  the  other  three 
were  recalled. 

Sergeant  Thomas  J.  Stewart,  company  A,  and  private  Wm. 
McDowell,  company  A,  reconnoitercd  the  position  of  the  enemy, 
and  went  far  in  advance  of  our  troops.  Private  J.  W.  Potts,  of 
company  B,  is  especially  mentioned  by  his  company  commander. 
So  arc  C.  L.  Watt,  company  C ;  W.  IL  McDadc,  company  D  ; 
Sergeant  J.  M.  Young,  company  E ;  Corporal  John  Dingier, 
company  E ;  privates  G.  H.  A.  Adams,  company  E  ;  R,  V. 
Gudger,  company  E  ;  G.  W.  Worlcy,  company  E ;  John  C. 
Weight,  company  E ;  T.  T.  Little,  company  E ;  J.  F.  Jenkins, 
company  E ;  R.  W.  Steadman,  company  F ;  M.  E.  Dye,  com- 
pany F;  H.  E.  Benton,  company  F ;  J.  B.  Smith,  company  F ; 
G.  W.  Buham,  company  11;  James  C  McRao,  company  H. 

CASUALTIES. 

Private  Henry  h.  Wyatt,  company  A,  mortally  wounded;  Lt. 
J.  W.  Ratchford,  contusion ;  privates  Council  Rodgers,  and 
Chas.  Williams,  company  A,  Avoundcd  severely  ;  private  S.  Pat- 
terson, company  D,  slightly  wounded ;  private  William  White, 
company  K,  wounded  ;  private  Peter  Potoat,  company  G,  slight* 
ly  wounded. 

I  cannot  close  this  too  elaborate  report  without  speaking  in 
the  highest  terms  of  admiration  of  the  Howitzer  Battallion,  and 
its  most  accomplished  commander,  Maj.  Randolph.  He  has  no 
superior  as  an  artillerist  in  any  country,  and  his  men  displayed 
the  utmost  skill  and  coolness.  The  left  Howitzer,  under  Lieut. 
Hudnell,  being  nearest  my  works,  came  under  my  special  notice. 


8  State  Convention.  [June,  1801. 

The  names  of  those  at  it  are  as  folloAVS : 

Lieut.  Hudnell,  commanding, -wounded;  Sergeant  S.  13.  Hugh, 
es,  S.  II.  Tendleton,  R.  B.  Pleasants,  W.  M.  Caldwell,  G. 
AV.  Hobson,  Wm.  McCarthy,  II.  C.  Shook,  Avounded ;  L.  W.  Tim- 
berlake,  G.  P.  Hughes,  John  AYorth,  Avounded ;  D.  B.  Clark. 

Permit  me,  in  conclusion,  to  paya  well  deserved  compliment  to 
the  first  Regiment  N.  C.  A^olunteers.  Their  patience  under 
trial,  perseverance  under  toil,  and  courage  under  fire,  have  sel- 
dom been  surpassed  by  veteran  troops.  After  \Yorking  night 
and  day,  sometimes  without  tents  and  cooking  utensils,  a  mur- 
mur has  never  escaped  them  to  my  knowledge.  They  have  done 
a  large  portion  of  the  work  on  the  intrenchuients  at  Yorktown, 
as  well  as  those  at  Bethel.  Had  all  the  Regiments  in  the  field 
worked  with  the  same  spirit,  there  would  not  be  an  assailable 
point  in  Virginia.  After  the  battle  they  shook  hands  affection- 
ately with  the  spades,  calling  thera  clover  follows  and  good 
friends.  The  men  are  influenced  by  liigh  moral  and  religious 
sentiments  ;  and  their  conduct  has  furnished  another  example 
of  the  great  truth,  ihat  he  who  fears  God  will  ever  do  his  duty 
to  his  countr3\ 

The  Confederates  had  in  all  about  1200  men  in  the  action. — 
The  enemy  had  the  regiments  of  Col.  Duryea  (Zouaves)  Col. 
Carr,  Col.  Allen,  Cel.  Benedick  and  Col.  Wardrop,  (Massachu- 
sett  s)  from  Old  Point  Comfort,  and  five  companies  of  Phelps, 
Regiment  from  Newport  News.  We  had  never  more  than  800 
actively  engaged  at  any  one  time.  The  Confederate  loss  was  11 
wounded  ;  of  those,  one  mortally.  The  enemy  must  have  lost 
some  300.  I  could  not,  without  great  disparagement  of  their 
courage,  place  their  loss  at  a  lower  figure.  It  is  inconceivable 
that  5000  men  should  make  so  precipitate  a  retreat  Avithout  hav- 
ing sustained  at  least  this  much  of  a  reverse. 

Let  us  devoutly  thank  the  living  God  for  his  wonderful  inter- 
position in  our  favor,  and  evince  our  gratitude  by  the  exempia- 
riness  of  our  lives. 

D.  H.  HILL, 
Col.,  1st.  Reg.  N.  C.  Vs. 


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